The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-07-21

propose to give literally Of their
means to help in the fight for the
license system.
A distiller in Cincinnati gives
$4,000 to help the anti-prohibition
cause, Why this expenditure of
money! Are these men so liberal
and benevolent that they desire to
distribute among the poor their sur
plus gains? Now if they were
christian men and were giving such
sums of money for the spread of
the gospel or for some other cause
of benevolence we could under
stand it. But there is no eXplana-
ton Of these facts only that they
really fear that their business will
be greatly injured by prohibition.
Perhaps some skeptical friend of
temperance will say, these men are
under a dclusion, that their fear is
ancedless one, but the fact remains
that in their opinion prohibition
will prohibit.
Again, prohibition has been test
ed in several sections of the country
and has been found as useful and
even more so than laws against
other crimes. The Governor of
the State of Maine in his last an
nual address speaking of the pro-
hibitory law of that state State says
it "has been of immeasurable value
in reducing the liquor trufic and
has correspondingly increased the
wealth of the State by increasing
the sobriety of the people and saw
ing the fruits of industry. The ex-
periencc of Maine for the last thir-
ty years abundantly justifes the
adoption of the prohibitory system" "
The Governor of Kansas in his
annual address in January 1887
says "A great reform has certainly
been accomplished in Kansas. In
temperance is steadily and surely
decreasing. In thousands of homes
where want and wretchedness and
suffering were once familiar guests,
plenty, happiness and contentment
now abide"
George Hillyer, Ex-Mayor OF
Atlanta has recently expressed him
self as follows, "The truth is, there
is not one-tenth of the drunkenness
in Atlanta that there used to be in
the days Of the bar-rooms. The
reform in the drinking habits OF
the people is most unmistakable and
in the very highest degree crafty
ing" Such facts as these might
be multiplied but these are suffi
cient to show the success of prohi
bition.
But what do our temperance
friends mean when they say 'pro
hibition will not prohibit Dc
they mean it as a reflection on the
character of those engaged in thC
liquor traffic, Do they mean tC
+ say that brewers, distillers anC
+ wholesale and retail dealers il
r strong drink are so determined t,
push their business that they will
| do it in defiance of law; that the,
$ are so regardless of the rights o
+ others and of the welfare of tn
e State and humanity as to pursue
cause which if persisted in woul,
. lead ultimately to anarchy and..ruin
q If this is true then we have a dan
Y gerous enemy to deal with and
d shows the necessity of united ac
v ton and effort on the part of tn
: friends of temperance and law an
d order, Dear friends of temperate
s. if you really believe this is the spil
k it of the liquor fraternity do ne
v stand aloof and discourage yol
: prohibition brethren by cryin
If "prohibition will not prohibit.
h Come over and give the propose
.e amendment your support and aftt
Is 1t is carried help your trends
h the execution of the law BY ac
S ing as you do and speaking as yc
ct do you may encourage the enemi,
G. and stimulate them to greater eff,o
,r and weaken a cause that you pr,
to fess to favor. You admit that
r prohibitory law would be goo
thing if it could be enforced The
" why not help to secure the anac
n ment Of such law first and the
II help to secure its rigid enforc
a ment?